//------------------------------// // An Eggciting Race // Story: Shadow Over Equestria // by Cmdr Brohoof //------------------------------// The next morning the group gathered in the courtyard at the gryphons castle. They stood in the middle of a large group of gryphons all talking about the challengers and their strange friend. “So what’s this challenge about anyway?” Rainbow Dash asked annoyed by the gryphon stares. “No clue” Spirit said “maybe we should have figured that out BEFORE we challenged them.” “Heh..maybe” Rainbow said “I wish we didn’t have to wait here” Fluttershy mummerd as she stood behind Spirit. “Don’t worry Fluttershy I’ll win this thing in ten seconds flat” the multi colored pony said as she stretched her wings. Trumpets sounded the entrance of the gryphon king. He entered the crowd to the thunderous cheers of the assembled gryphons. The king was followed by three female gryphons each holding an egg. The entourage stopped in the middle facing the ponies and human. “Today we have two outsiders to participate in the Egg Migration race.” The king announced to the audience “as you all know the race is held to symbolize the dangers our females faced in ancient times when they took their eggs to the ceremonial hatching grounds.” “Gryphons come from eggs?” the Spirit whispered to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash “Duh” Rainbow said “where did you think they came from? Cocoons?” Fluttershy laughed at the puzzled human. “Now challengers please take your eggs.” The king gestured to the female gryphons. The two ponies each took and egg and placed into their bag. “Wait who am I racing against? Fluttershy? No disrespect but she’s not much of a racer.” Rainbow asked the King “She’s right” Fluttershy said cheerfully hoping to be let go from the race. “She usually likes to make an entrance” the king grinned As soon as the king finished his sentence a gryphon landed behind the ponies. “Well…Well if it isn’t my old friend Rainbow Crash and her wimpy friend Fluttercry. The gryphon jeered “Gilda?!” a surprised Rainbow said “Of dear” Fluttershy whimpered “What are you doing here? You’re the best flyer here?” Rainbow asked “Duh…who else could it be” The gryphon said spreading her wings Rainbow suddenly burst out laughing “What are you laughing at?” an angered Gilda asked “You’re the best?” Rainbow said holding a laugh “I beat you so many times in the junior speedsters it isn’t even funny…wait it is!” she continued to laugh “Hmph” Gilda said as she grabbed the egg “that was in Cloundsdale you're on my turf now” “Pffft I could beat you anywhere.” Rainbow said still chuckling The king interrupted the racers “Well then seems like we are in for a good show today. Gilda you know the rules but I will explain them for our guests here. Our ceremonial hatching grounds are days away you will not be flying there. At the bottom of the mountain is a stone nest we use to symbolize them. The first racer to touch the nest with their egg and bring it back here safely will be this year’s champion.” “Sound easy enough” Rainbow stated “When the trumpets sound the race will began please approach the starting line.” The king said The three racers approached the line both Gilda and Rainbow staring each other down. Fluttershy patted her egg “Don’t worry Shelly” “Shelly!...you named the egg?” Rainbow looked at Fluttershy “Of course you didn’t?” Fluttershy watched Rainbow let out a sigh. The trumpets again sounded starting the race. Both Gilda and Rainbow bolted from the line. Fluttershy dropped to the ground surprised from the trumpets blast. “Go Fluttershy!” The Spirit yelled from the sidelines “What? OH!” She said as she began to fly away Rainbow quickly gained the lead over the larger gryphon. As she turned to see how far behind Gilda was she felt something buzz her head. “Huh?” she said as she turned back. Buzzards were dive bombing her attempting to grab the contents of her bag. She stopped to swat away the growing group of buzzards. Gilda quickly passed the struggling Rainbow. “Gotta watch for them Rainbow Crash” Gilda called back “Get off of me” Rainbow said breaking free of the buzzards. She quickly caught up to the gryphon. They each began to try to out maneuver the other. Rainbow would perform a loop Gilda would follow. Each trying to prove the other was better. Soon the stone nest came into view. Gilda touched her egg to the nest and quickly pulled away back up the mountain. As Gilda cleared the nest large snakes burrowed up from the ground. Rainbow stopped as quickly as she could, coming inches from a snakes snapping jaw. She nimbly weaved in and out from the snakes. Touching the egg to the nest and headed back to try and catch the already ahead Gilda. As Rainbow approached the castle she could just make out Gilda almost to the finish line. She made her body as streamlined as possible her target Gilda. Rainbow rocketed toward the unaware gryphon and tackled her mid air. Both Gilda and Rainbow crashed hard into ground in front of the finish line. The crowd all gasped at the fallen racers. Rainbow slid across the finish line while Gilda fell just before it. “I WON!” Rainbow cheered as she jumped up “Not so fast CRASH!” Gilda called out “take a look at your egg” she said as she walked across the finish line. “What?” Rainbow reached in her bag pulling out pieces of egg shell “NO” a disheartened Rainbow uttered “Looks like I win” The gryphon said mockingly to the pony as she handed her egg to the king. “Sorry Gilda but you lose too” The king said eyeing the egg. “WHAT!!” Gilda squawked The king turned the other side of the egg to face Gilda which reviled a large crack. “But if I didn’t win and Gilda didn’t win” Rainbow looked at Gilda’s egg. “No” a horrified Gilda said “There you go Shelly home sweet home” Fluttershy said gently placing her bag and its contents past the finish line “Anybody but her” Gilda said The crowd all cheered for the yellow pony. “Oh my” she said “is it something I did.” “You won Fluttershy!” the Spirit said running up to her “I did?” she said confused “You sure did” Rainbow said grabbing her the around neck “Oh I’m sorry I know you wanted to win” Fluttershy said looking at the ground “It’s ok Fluttershy I’ll give you this one. As long as we beat Gilda I’ll be alright”